Collapsible paper box



Nov. 8, 1932. R. A. GROSS COLLAPSIBLE PAPER BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 11. 1929 I INVENTOR ATTORNEY NOV. 8, 1932- R. A. GROSS COLLAPSIBLE PAPER BOX Filed Jan. 11. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet R O T N E V m ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFl-cF.

mm a. enoss, or Lrrrrz, rnmrsxnvma, assrenon, BY menu Assmmmms, 'ro smrLnx PAPER BOX conromrron, or mrrrz, rmmsnvanm, a conromrron OF PENNSYLVANIA comrsmm rum BOX Application filed January 11, 1929. Serial No. 831,842.

My invention consists in the novel features herema-fter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which show several embodiments of my invention selected by me for purposes of illustration, and the said invention is fully disclosed in the following a description and claims.

My invention consists in a lmock-down box -formed of paper or cardboard stock from a suitable blank and capable of being shipped and stored while flat, and quickly erected into operative position and securely locked when p it is desired to use the box. My invention 2-2 thereof.

also enables me to provide the box with cover portions which may be formed integrally with one or both of its opposite side flaps, and may be so constructed as to add to the rigidity of the box when desired, or may be used as an interior cover, to protect the contents and carry advertisingmatter, or otherwise take the place of the lace paper or other separate" inserts now employed, and reduce the cost of the box by saving the labor required to cut and attach said inserts. p v v In the accompanying drawin Fig. l is a prospective view 0 one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of Fig, 1 on line Fig. 2a is a similar view showing a slight modification. V

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the blank for forming the box shown in Fig. 1.

' ig. 4 is a perspective view of one end of the box when partially erected and showing an integral cover flap attached to one side Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the erected box illustrated in Fig. 4.

. Fig. 6 is a similar-view showing a slight modification in which both side flaps are provided with cover flaps.

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing another modification in which the cover flaps are overiapped and secured together to reinforce'the Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of -a box showing another slight modification.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the same. The preferred form ofmy invention is il- .erected.

lustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, of which 8 shows a blank from which-the box is made and whlch may be paper, cardboard, or other sheet stock, of the required ordesired thickness and stifi'ness. In its simplest form this blank comprises a rectangular main body portion, 1, provided with side flaps, 2,2, separated from the main body by scores or creases 2 The main body is also provided with en flaps, 3, 3, separated from the main body by- The adjacent ends of the'side and en 2, 3, are connected b integral corner portions, which are slitmwardlyto the center from one edge, as indicated at 7, and are scored from the inner edge of the slit to the adjacent corner of the main body, as indicated at 8, thus forming infoldin corner portions, 9 and 10 res ectively. In t s instance each .of the side aps, 2, is provided, at each end adjacent to the junction of the side fia with the main body, with the longitudin slot,

indicated at 11, of the proper size and shape to receive and fit upon the locking projection, 6, of the locking flaps, 5, when the box is It will thus beseen'that when the box is in erected position as shown in Fig. 1, for

example, the locking projections, 6, exactly fit and fill 'orclosethe slots, 11, in the side,

walls, without distending or distorting the side walls or any part or portion thereof outwardly, so that the true rectangular form of the box is preserved without any distortion,

and the outer end faces of the locldng por- "tions,'6, lie in the plane of and in effect form part of the exterior faces ofthe side walls,

and do not mar the appearance of the finished :box, and do not interfere with telescoping of one part of the box over the other, in the telescopic form.

I prefer to fold over the slde pieces on the scores, 2, so that they lie upon the main body, 1, which of necessity will carry the cor-. ner portions over upon the main end flaps, 3, and I also prefer to permanently unite the arts, 9, of the corner portions to the end aps, 3, either by adhesive material or otherwise, and in Fig. 3 I have shown the parts, 9, gummed for this purpose, as indicated 1n dots in Fig. 3. This leaves the blank in flat form so that it can be readily shipped and stored in fiat condition, while the permanent union of the parts, 9, with the end flaps fa cilitates the erection of the'box into operative position when it is desired to use it, as the raising of the end flaps into vertical positlon will automatically raise the side flaps into vertical position, as will be readily understood, the corner portions folding in against the adjacent end flap, 3, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4, for exam le.. .'Io com lete the erection of the box the lnterior end aps,

4, are folded downward over the infolded cor-- ner portions (see Fig. 4) which will carry the locking flaps, 5, into contact with the main bod 1, of the box, which may be the bottom o the box or the top of the cover as the case may be, and the locking portlons, 6, 6, will be inserted in the slots, 11, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, thus locking the box against any possible accidental collapse thereafter. It will be understood that when the box is formed as indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 for ex-.

ample, it will be used as one member of a telescoping box, in a well known way, that is tosay, that where a closed box is desired it is only necessary to make the blanks in two sizes, one slightly larger than the other,

so that one box member can be telescoped over the other.

It will beseen that my improved box 1s extremely simple in construction and at the same time it will be permanently locked in the erected position, and the end portions being formed by the main and interior end flaps, 3, 4, the latter enclosing the infolded corner portions and the whole being locked the side flaps, as shown in Fig. 2a forexam Is.

' contemplate, however, the provision inconnection with the box illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, of inte al cover flaps which will be very desirable cm the standpoint of cost and will make a perfectly satisfactory box for many purposes. In Figs. 4 and 5 for example, I have shown one of the side flaps, 2, provided with integral cover flap, 13, which is substantially co-extensive with the main body, 1, and will therefore extend over the entire top of the box. This cover flap is separated by the side flap, 2, by the score or crease, 13F, and the folding over of the material at this crease or scorewill effectively stiffen the connected side piece, 2. In order to correspondingly stiffen the other side iece, 2, I contemplate providing the cover a'p with a reinforcing flap, 14, separated from the cover flap, 13, by the score or crease, 14*, and the folding of the material at this score'or crease will stiffen the free edge of the cover flap, and when the cover is placed in closed position, the reinforcing flap, 14, will'fit snugly against the inner face of the opposite side flap, 2, thus both sides of the box are stiffened when the box is erected and closed, so that a very satisfactory box and closure may thus be made from a single blank of sheet material with a minimum of cost for labor, and even when the material is thin and moderately pliable the resulting box will be found to have suflicient rigidity for the purposes for which it is intended.

I wish it understood at the same time that I may use the cover flap, 13, either with or without the reinforcing flap, 14, when the box is intended to be used as part of a telescopic box, in which case the other member may be made as shown in Fig. L for example a telescope over the box and cover illustrated in Figs. 4 and '5.

Where the box is to be used as a member of a telescoping box, I may find it convenient tizlo provide 0th of the side flaps with cover aps which the other portions of the box shown, corresponding with those illustrated in the ers with the addition oflOO, and the cover flaps may extend to a greater or less extent across the box and may meet centrally or at any other point transversely thereof.

as indicated at 113, 113, in Fig. 6, in

receding figures are given thesame num- In Fig. 7 in which corresponding parts are given the same reference numerals as in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 with the addition of 200, I have shown the separate cover flaps, 213, 213, overlapping, and in such case the overlap ing portions may be provided with interlocking means for example, such as a slot indicated at 215, in one of t e cover flaps to be engaged by a tongue, 216, formed on the other in a well known way. When either of the forms of box shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is used as a part of a telescoping box, the cover flaps, 113 and 213 will take the place of the lace paper or, other inserts commonly used in boxes for candy, etc., which are separately formed and pasted or otherwise secured to the box, and as material is usually cheaper than labor an economy of manufacture will be effectedby using these cover flaps which may also carry advertising matter.

In Figs. 8 and 9, I have shown another modification of my improved box in which the corresponding parts to those illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are given the same reference numerals with the addition of 300. In this figure the end locking flaps, 305, are each provided at one end only with the looking projection indicated at 306, to engage slots, 311, in the adjacent side flap, 302, while the other end of each locking fiap, 305, is provided with a different form of interlocking means to engage a part connected with the opposite side flap, 302. In this particular instance I have shown the said opposite end of the locking fiap, 305, provided with a beveled portion, 306, which engages a beveled portion, 318, on a locking flap, 317, formed at the outer end of an interior side flap, 312, similar to that shown in Fig. 2, and which reinforces that side of the box. .VVhere this construction is used I prefer to secure the necessary reinforcement of the other side of 25 the box by providing it with a cover flap, as indicated at 313 for example, which may or may not be provided with the reinforcing flap, 314,

. I do not claim herein the integral or uni- 80 tary cover shown in some of the figuresof the drawings, in connection wlth my improved box, asthis is covered by another application for Letters Patent of the United States filed by me November 11th, 1930 and a 85 given Serial No. 494,831, which application is a continuationin part of this application, as to all matters common to both.

What I claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is':-

1. A knockdown box comprising a blank having a main body, integral side flaps and end flaps, and infolding corner sections, integral with the adjacent side and end flaps, and diagonally creased to fold u n them-l selves and upon the adjacent end flapaat least one of said side flaps being provided at each end-with a horizontal rectangular locking slot adjacent to the junction with the main body and extending inwardly from the end flap, and each end flap bein provided with a coextensive interior'end ap to fold upon the adjacent infolding corner ortions, and provided at its outer edge witli a locking fiap to engage the main body in the erected position, each of said lockin flaps being provided at at least one end t ereof, with a rectangular locking projection. of a length equal to the length of the slot and of a cross section substantially equal to the cross section of one of said slots, and completely fitting the same without distorting any portion of the side flap containing said slot, and being provided at its opposite end with locking means for interloc mug with a part con- ,65, nected with the opposite side flap.

zontal rectangular locking slot adjacent to each end thereof, and adjacent to the junction of the side flap with the main body and extending inwardly from the end flap, and each of said end flaps being provided with an in terior end flap coextensive therewith to fold down over the infolding corner portion, and having at its outer edge a locking flap for engaging the main body in the erected position of the box, said locking flaps being provided at each end with rectangular locking projections of a length equal to the length of the slots and of a cross section substantially equal to the cross section of said slots to fit said slots without distorting any part of the side flaps, said locking projections being of such width that when in engagement with their coacting slots, the outer edges of said projections will lie substantially in the planes of the outer faces of said side flaps.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

- RALPH A. GROSS. 

